RE:Massey Harris Implements.

I thought I would bring this one back to the surface again. In another thread we have been talking a little about combines and since I like combines nearly as much as plows here is a couple pictures of some nice early combines since Malcolm resently found out he has a couple parts for one of these

RE:Massey Harris Implements.

Your first photo is a lovely period shot Tom, apparently it was the first M-H combine Massey brought into Lincolnshire and sold to a large farmer of the time. This photgraph has been used in both brochures and books over many years, including the tractor magazines of more recent years.
I find it very interesting to see the binder did more work in the field than the combine when this photo was taken, there are more stooks of sheaves than trails of straw from the combine!!
But I do know the combine worked for many years on the same farm, in the past I have seen some old cine film of it working at one of our tractor club meetings.

RE:Massey Harris Implements.

Here is another very unusual piece of Massey Harris hay making machinery, rarely seen and very few known to exist in preservation today.

Massey Harris's connection with William Dickie and Sons of Scotland produced the famous "Dickie Hay Turner", Dickie made and sold many horse drawn machines and when the partnership with Massey Harris was formed they continued to manufacture the tractor drawn two wheeled hay turner together with the three wheeled side delivery rake with iconic concrete weight on the rear to ensure the drive wheels turned..

This M-H Dickie hay turner pictured at the Suffolk Agricultural Show a few years ago is the three point linkage version of the Dickie Hay Turner of the 1950's period, being mounted on the linkage it's single wheel in the centre is for drive to the gearbox. These machines were great for both turning and windrowing, the yellow tin shields on the machine in the photograph are down in the windrowing position, when turning or spreading they are lifted up.

It's a shame the tractor is not a Massey in the photograph of such a rare piece of late Massey Harris hay making equipment.

RE:Massey Harris Implements.

I hadn't realised Dickie made a mounted hay turner. Was that stiil in the time they were making them for M-H ? By the colour in your photos I guess they were.

I have two, two wheel and one three wheel M-H Dickie Hay Turners. All awaiting restoration.

When I was a boy I used to go to a farm where they had a two wheel Dickie Hay Turner. The frame was painted light blue or even turquoise with dark red wheels. The frame was made of light channel iron if I remember correctly unlike the M-H version where the frame is tubular. Other than that the machines were the same.

I have three wrenches listed that were supplied with the Dickie Hay Turner. Part number 633866 M1 which is a Double Open Ended Wrench and 633865 M1 which is an Oil Can which are I think M-H part numbers and A 41 which is a Single Open Ended Wrench. I don't know if this was supplied during the M-H era or not.

RE:Massey Harris Implements.

Many thanks for the Dickie wrench (spanner) information Alan, now I can associate those with my Dickie hay turning machines.

With regard to the thre point linkage mounted hay turner pictured above, somewhere i have it in my M-H literature but just not found it at the moment. I am sure it was the last hay turner in the M-H / Dickie association.
Over the years I have only heard of two in preservation, that's why I wondered if any viewers here would know of more, you never know what is hiding in the back of those old sheds around the world!!!

Yes I have seen that light blue colour on the early horse drawn Dickie equipment with channel iron frame.
I have a very nice foot step with DICKIE cast in the centre circle amongst my cast iron collection, but not sure which piece of equipment it is off.

RE:Massey Harris Implements.

Attached are two photographs of a very nicely restored M-H No 728 grain and fertilizer seed drill seen at a working show recently, these machines were so popular and sold here in very large numbers by M-H dealers in arable areas, I still have our original one at the back of the yard waiting for restoration one day, with memories of many days spent riding the back board with both the cold spring wind and dust blowing up into my face.

In later years I think one of the most popular M-F implements was the No 30 grain drill again sold in their 1000s and some still being used today.

RE:Massey Harris Implements.

Alan,

Nice to see the old Fergy implements in action. I have one of those M-H fertiliser distributors and they are usually surprisingly good inside and not much of a bother. The look of yours gives me hope that a clean and an oil down will suffice.

Now where are the daffodil flowers. Over here it is St. David's day and daffodils are the national flower - so you have missed our market! But maybe you have other varieties in flower somewhere?

And to go back to the subject of cake remember that malcolm has his stove up and running so Doreen's cake could be cooked on that if you could just get her to yield over the recipe to him!

RE:Massey Harris Implements.

Great to see you out in the fields with the Fergie Alan, hope next year we see the same operation with your M-H tractor and #717 spreader, the red of the tractor would go well with the yellow daffodils.
They are a wonderful spreader to use, that was one M-H implement I remember using as a boy.
Get the WD 40 out and you will soon have her field ready, nice hub caps on those wheels.

Expect to have a slice of cake at Norwich in April when I bring the GP down.